Cattaraugus County Economic Development, Planning & Tourism
BackCattaraugus County's Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism is not a conventional travel agency. It's a multifaceted government entity tasked with a broad and crucial mission: to foster economic growth, manage county planning, and promote the region as a vibrant tourist destination. For a potential client, whether a business owner seeking support or a traveler planning a visit, understanding this dual role is key to navigating the services and potential pitfalls associated with this organization. It operates as the official tourism board for the region, marketed as the "Enchanted Mountains of Western New York," while also providing a suite of business development services.
Services and Stated Goals
On paper, the department offers an extensive and valuable range of services. For the business community, it aims to be a one-stop-shop for growth, providing assistance with business planning, marketing, small business loans, and grants. A significant and specialized offering is its role as a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), now known as an APEX Accelerator. This program is specifically designed to help local businesses navigate the complex process of securing government contracts at the federal, state, and local levels—a potentially transformative opportunity for small enterprises. This service is provided free of charge, funded in part by the Department of Defense, and serves a wide 15-county region.
On the tourism front, the department functions as the primary destination management organization for Cattaraugus County. Its role is to market the area's many attractions, which include Allegany State Park, Holiday Valley and HoliMont ski resorts, the Seneca Allegany Casino, and the Amish Trail. The agency manages the official tourism website, EnchantedMountains.com, and works to promote local events, accommodations, and activities to draw visitors. For travelers, this department is the official source for information needed for holiday planning and creating customized travel itineraries in the region.
The Positive Experiences: A Glimmer of Excellence
Despite a low overall public rating, there are documented instances of positive and productive interactions. One business owner specifically praised a staff member, Christine Urf, for being very good to work with in the context of the PTAC program. This suggests that for those who can connect with the right person, the department’s business services can be highly effective. The PTAC program, in particular, represents a significant asset, offering specialized expertise that is otherwise hard to come by. The existence of a 5-star rating, though lacking a detailed comment, further indicates that satisfactory outcomes are possible. These positive data points highlight the potential value locked within the organization. Furthermore, the physical office is noted as having a wheelchair-accessible entrance, a practical and important detail for ensuring accessibility to its services.
A Pattern of Communication Failures
Unfortunately, the positive feedback is overshadowed by a significant volume of negative reviews that point to a critical systemic issue: a severe lack of communication and professionalism. The prevailing sentiment among dissatisfied clients is one of frustration stemming from unresponsiveness. Multiple reports describe a pattern of unreturned phone calls and unanswered emails, leaving individuals seeking assistance in a state of limbo. This is not just a minor inconvenience; it represents a fundamental breakdown in the agency's ability to serve the public it's meant to support.
One of the most concerning accounts involves a scheduled meeting with a department representative who reportedly never showed up and subsequently failed to respond to follow-up emails. This level of unprofessionalism is particularly damaging, as it erodes trust and discourages further engagement from both local entrepreneurs and external parties looking to invest or engage with the county. The feedback suggests these are not isolated incidents but a recurring problem that undermines the department’s mission. For an entity that is the public face of the county for both business and travel planning, this inconsistency is a major liability.
Inconsistent Service Delivery
The stark contrast in user experiences reveals a deep-seated inconsistency in service quality. It appears that a client's success in dealing with the department may depend heavily on chance—which staff member they reach and on what day. While one person finds a specific program manager extremely helpful, others are met with silence. This variability makes it difficult for potential clients to approach the agency with confidence. For a business owner on a tight deadline or a tour operator trying to coordinate local tours, this unreliability can be a deal-breaker. The core issue does not seem to be the quality of the intended services themselves, but the inconsistent and often poor execution of their delivery.
Conclusion: A Resource with Significant Caveats
The Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism presents a classic case of an organization with a strong mission but flawed execution. It holds the keys to valuable resources, from grant assistance and government contracting guidance to comprehensive information for those planning vacation packages to the Enchanted Mountains. The potential for positive impact is immense.
However, anyone looking to engage with this department must do so with managed expectations and a strategy for persistence. The recurring complaints about communication are too significant to ignore. Prospective clients should be prepared for the possibility of needing to follow up multiple times through various channels. While the department has the framework to be a powerful engine for regional prosperity and tourism, it must address its fundamental issues of responsiveness and professional consistency to truly fulfill that role. The services are there, but accessing them can be a significant challenge.
